South Africa’s ruling African National Congress held its final major stadium rally on Saturday before the upcoming general election, aiming to maintain its streak of post-apartheid victories.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s party gathered supporters and brought in undecided voters to fill over two-thirds of the 90,000-seat FNB stadium in between Johannesburg and Soweto to energize his re-election campaign.
“We will do more and we will do better,” the 71-year-old former businessman and millionaire told the crowd, emphasizing that the ANC is “the only political party in the entire South Africa that can bring together so many people in one place.”
“We come together here, carrying the hopes and dreams of millions,” he stated. “Our nation will decide whether to continue moving forward with the ANC towards a brighter future or turn back to a dark past.”
The president received intermittent cheers as he committed to maintaining black economic empowerment programs and hinted at potential increases in grants for the less fortunate.
By the time his hour-long speech concluded, the crowd had noticeably thinned.
According to polls, this year’s election could be the first time since the advent of democracy in South Africa that Nelson Mandela’s party fails to secure an absolute majority.
– ‘Really struggling’ –
Clad in yellow and green T-shirts, ANC supporters displayed enthusiasm, even though many doubted Ramaphosa’s ability to revive the party’s past glory.
“It’s crucial to be here this year because the ANC is facing real challenges,” said Nkululeko Sibeko, 37, from Soweto, who was sporting a shirt with the president’s portrait along with his girlfriend.
Despite competing against 51 opposition parties, Ramaphosa anticipates leading the largest single bloc in the National Assembly. However, if he falls below 50 percent, he may struggle to build a coalition to secure his re-election.
74-year-old Elizabeth Mzize, who remembers the ANC’s fight against apartheid, attended the rally despite mobility issues. “We are here for Mandela!” she exclaimed.
When asked about Ramaphosa, Mzize chuckled with approval. An ANC loyalist assisting her group quickly intervened: “Yes, he is the right man!”
– Contempt of court –
The center-right opposition Democratic Alliance, led by John Steenhuisen, will host its final major rally on Sunday, aiming to improve on its 2019 vote share of 20 percent.
The DA is popular among South Africa’s white minority and has a strong presence in the Western Cape province. However, it will need support from smaller black-led parties to replace ANC rule.
The ANC faces another challenge from the radical left, particularly Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who held a competing rally in Polokwane on Saturday.
The spotlight is also on former president Jacob Zuma and his newly-formed uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party. Zuma, with a contempt of court conviction, is ineligible to run for office, but his party could attract enough votes to impact post-election negotiations.
– Growing disenchantment –
If the ANC falls below 50 percent, it would lead South Africa into uncharted territory, a likely scenario according to analysts and opinion polls.
The ANC played a key role in freeing black South Africans from apartheid, established democracy, and lifted millions out of poverty through social welfare programs. However, high unemployment, crime, corruption, power shortages, and water scarcity have left many of the nation’s 62 million residents disillusioned.
Despite the economy’s minimal growth of 0.6 percent in 2023, approximately 27 million people are registered to vote on May 29, electing 400 members of the National Assembly who will then select the president.
The DA, with polls indicating under 25 percent support, under the leadership of 48-year-old Steenhuisen, advocates for privatization and labor law reform, aiming to “rescue” South Africa through a coalition with smaller parties.
Malema’s EFF and Zuma’s MK are polling around 10 percent. The EFF, appealing to the disenfranchised majority, held a large rally in Polokwane, with Malema expressing readiness to lead and fight against corruption.
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